The Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF) has awarded the Genesee Chamber Foundation a $30,000 grant for the 2010 Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) program. The SYI program is managed by the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce.

Rhetta Hunyady, Regional Chamber Group Vice President, Operations and Employer Education & Training Connection noted that the SYI not only helps teens secure employment, but allows them to explore various career avenues and enhance the skills they need to grow into good employees and society leaders. This is the 15th year for the SYI program and Hunyady said that participation continues to grow annually.

“SYI is a great program that thrives because of the support of our many funders,” said Ms. Hunyady. “Their generous grants and participation play a key role in providing opportunities for teens to gain a variety of work experience, and emphasizes to teens the significant role they personally play in the community.”

The 2010 Community Foundation of Greater Flint grant dollars come from the following funds:

Danny R. Gaydou Fund for Youth

Helen Philpott Fund for Children

Joseph T. Ryder Endowment Fund

Sidney and Margaret Steward Endowment Fund

The SYI program supports Community Foundation of Greater Flint strategic intent by supporting opportunities for area youth to develop as contributing citizens, as well as addressing the systemic issue of unemployment. The Community Foundation has supported the Summer Youth Initiative since 1996. Funding from CFGF will directly support salaries for teen workers.

Nearly 500 Genesee County teens, 14-18 years old, will learn job and leadership skills, find employment, and participate in community service opportunities, thanks to local foundation support for the 2010 SYI program.

At this time 20 nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Genesee County will employ SYI students for eight to 10 weeks this summer. Minimum wage salaries for students employed at nonprofit organizations are supported at 100 percent by the program. Students working at for-profit businesses receive 50 percent of their salary for the first 90 days of employment from the program.

About CFGF:

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint serves the common good in Genesee County—building a strong community by engaging people in philanthropy and developing the community’s permanent endowment—now and for generations to come. CFGF helps donors support the causes they care about, today or through their estates. In 2009, CFGF awarded more than $4.2 million in grants to the local community. CFGF serves Flint and all of Genesee County including its geographic affiliates in Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flushing and Grand Blanc. For more information on the Community Foundation of Greater Flint log onto www.cfgf.org.